First Great Western Class 57/6 No. 57603 skirts Marine Parade, Dawlish on 30 August 2014 powering the Saturdays only 11.25 Par to Exeter St Davids, formed of four Night Riveria coaches 10225, 12100, 17173 and 17174. CJM

Viewed from the station footbridge at Dawlish station on 30 August 2014, Class 150/2 No. 150232 on the left forms train 2F33, 13.00 Paignton to Exmouth, while on the down line to the right sister set No. 150239 arrives with train 2T17 12.23 Exmouth to Paignton running 15 minutes late. CJM

West Coast Railway Class 47 No. 47804 operates 'top and tail' with Class 57/3 No. 57314 on train 1Z50, the 06.30 Derby to Kingswear 'The Statesman' Pullman on 30 August 2014. The train is seen passing the major worksite on the Sea Wall near Coastguards Bridge where the lower section will soon be raised to the full height to provide better protection. CJM

I am often quite stunned by what modern technology and good camera equipment will let us achieve these days. On 29 August 2014 when the return Dartmouth Flyer charter from Kingswear to Crewe emerged from Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish, I took the above exposure on 5000ISO on a 70-200 f2.8 lens with an exposure of 1/500 at f3.5. The image was recorded in RAW and then processed in Nikons own RAW software followed by editing in Adobe Photoshop. The result, while in no way could be classified as good, is acceptable to record an unusual train. When taken at 20.08 it was dark to the eye. 37601 and 37603 power the 1Z30 19.05 Kingswear to Crewe. CJM

The return loaded logs from Teigngrace to Chirk scheduled to run during the morning of 28 August 2014, finally managed to pass Dawlish at 18.05!, by then running as the 17.33 Teigngrace to Briton Ferry Yard, South Wales, formed of Colas Ril Freight Class 56 No. 56113 and 16 loaded log wagons. Firstly the train was delayed in loading and then the loco required fuel, for which it operated light to Exeter FGW shed during the late morning. At least the last rays of sun were out for the late running train, seen here from the balcony of the Marine Tavern Pub, if it had run to time it would have been black as ink.

No sun for on the Sea Wall for Pathfinder tour s 'The Dartmouth Flyer charter to Kingswear for the Dartmouth Carnival on 29 August 2014. DRS Class 37/6s Nos. 37603 and 37601 were provided for the train, which operated outbound as 1Z29, the 06.14 Crewe to Kingswear seen approaching Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish.

The Red Arrows salute Dawlish during the early evening of 22 August 2014 to mark the opening of the Annual 'Pilots Party' held on The Lawn.

After a long time of trying, today 21 August 2014,First Great Western re-applied the Red Arrows name (with new plates supporting the 50 years of flying displays) to power car No. 43155 in a special ceremony at Exeter St Davids, The event was carried out in conjunction with the Dawlish Air Show held on Saturday 23 August 2014. Kevin Wills, the organiser of the Dawlish Air Show has had a hard battle to get this name reapplied and full marks must go to him and his team for getting this done. The unveiling was carried out by Red 1, Squadron Leader Jim Turner, with the entire team at his side. A very proud day for Exeter, FGW, The Dawlish Air Show and the RAF. The picture shows Jim Turner unveiling the plate.

Various views of the naming event with the 'Reds' being given a quick driver training course. CJM

Running on Wednesday in place of Thursday, EWS Class 66 No. 66186 emerges from Kennaway Tunnel on 20 August 2014 with train 6C53, 11.20 Parkandillack to Exeter Riverside, formed of 10 clay wagons. CJM

A proper size train the new 2+2 FGW formation! On 19 August a 5Z77 11.00 Old Oak Common to Laira via Paddington operated formed of Power car 43186, TGS 44023, TF 41187 and power car 43034. The stock move is seen passing Dawlish Warren. CJM

FGW Class 153 No.153380 leads a Class 150/2away from Dawlish on 17 August 2014 with train 2T24, the 16.24 Exmouth to Paignton. The large number of boats in the bay is a rowing boat race from Dawlish to Shaldon. CJM

Direct Rail Services Class 47s Nos. 47853 and 47813 top and tail three coaches as the Greater Anglia 2J80 service, the 14.55 Norwich - Lowestoft, seen departing from Norwich on 15 August 2014.

Greater Anglia Class 156 No. 156416 departs from Norwich on 15 August 2014 with service 2P24, the 14.40 Norwich - Great Yarmouth. Class 90 No. 90004 is on the left awaiting departure with the 15.00 service to London Liverpool Street. CJM

Greater Anglia Class 156 No. 156416 arrives at Norwich on 15 August 2014 with service 2J79, the 13.48 Lowestoft to Norwich, while Class 90 No. 90004 awaits departure with the 15.00 service to Liverpool Street. CJM

68004 Rapid stabled in the bay at Norwich on 15 August 2014 while involved in driver training duties. CJM

68004 Rapid stabled in the bay at Norwich on 15 August 2014 while involved in driver training duties. CJM

In August 2014 Direct Rail Services Class 68 No. 68004 Rapid was in use as a driver training loco in the Norwich area, and on 15 August 2014 was stabled in one of the bays adjacent to Norwich station. Greater Anglia DVT No. 82139 passes the stabled loco as it arrives with train 1P26, the 12.00 from London Liverpool Street. CJM

What is thought to be the first Class 66/0 in revised livery, without the EWS branding and with a large DB on the non-driving cab-side. 66172 was photographed on 14 August 2014 passing Dawlish powering the Thursdays only St Blazey to Exeter Riverside china clay duty. CJM

It is excellent to see a young enthusiast taking interest in todays railways - lets hope he grows up and continues his following of railways. Recorded on 9 August 2014, No. 57604 departs from Dawlish with the Saturdays only 17.50 Exeter St Davids to Penzance. CJM

Recorded on 9 August 2014, No. 57604 arrives at Dawlish with the Saturdays only 17.50 Exeter St Davids to Penzance. CJM

FGW green-liveried Class 57 No. 57604 was again used on the Summer Saturday loco-hauled duty on 9 August 2014. The up train, the 2E75, 11.25 Par to Exeter St Davids, skirts Marine Parade, Dawlish as it approaches the station. CJM

FGW green-liveried Class 57 No. 57604 was again used on the Summer Saturday loco-hauled duty on 9 August 2014. The up train, the 2E75, 11.25 Par to Exeter St Davids, skirts Marine Parade, Dawlish as it approaches the station. CJM

Southend-on-Sea 'lift' first opened in 1912, closed in 2003 after failure and reopened on 25 May 2010. Operates daytime in summer and at weekends in winter. Illustrations taken on 7 August 2014.

Southend Pier Railway - 8 August 2014.

The highlight of the day (6 August 2014) or perhaps the week in the South West, was the down 5Z79 11.05 Exeter St Davids to Long Rock depot formed of the overnight westbound FGW Sleeper train which failed in the Whiteball area with oil problems on FGW Class 57 No. 57603. The train was originally rescued from Whiteball by an HST which took it to Exeter from where the passengers were transferred to another HST for their journey forward. The failed train was rescued by DRS Class 57/3 No. 57310 Pride of Cumbria in ex-works new DRS colours which operated light from Paddington to Exeter to collect the train. In an amazing blast of sun, the train is seen passing through Dawlish station heading west. After this picture was taken, No. 57310 failed with low power at Plymouth and the entire train was taken to Laira.CJM

The highlight of the day (6 August 2014) or perhaps the week in the South West, was the down 5Z79 11.05 Exeter St Davids to Long Rock depot formed of the overnight westbound FGW Sleeper train which failed in the Whiteball area with oil problems on FGW Class 57 No. 57603. The train was originally rescued from Whiteball by an HST which took it to Exeter from where the passengers were transferred to another HST for their journey forward. The failed train was rescued by DRS Class 57/3 No. 57310 Pride of Cumbria in ex-works new DRS colours which operated light from Paddington to Exeter to collect the train. In an amazing blast of sun, the train is seen passing through Dawlish station heading west. After this picture was taken, No. 57310 failed with low power at Plymouth and the entire train was taken to Laira.CJM

Class150/1 No. 150120, coupled to a Class 153 departs from Dawlish on 3 August 2014 forming service 2T12, 10.21 Exmouth to Paignton. CJM

57604 departs from Dawlish with 2C51 17.50 Exeter St Davids to Penzance on 2 August 2014. Stunning light at this location at this time and a good number of bashers and photters out for it. CJM

57604 departs from Dawlish with 2C51 17.50 Exeter St Davids to Penzance on 2 August 2014. Stunning light at this location at this time and a good number of bashers and photters out for it. CJM

57604 departs from Dawlish with 2C51 17.50 Exeter St Davids to Penzance on 2 August 2014. Stunning light at this location at this time and a good number of bashers and photters out for it. CJM

Mock-GW liveried Class 57/6 No. 57604 arrives at Totnes with 2E75, 11.25 Par to Exeter St Davids on 2 August 2014. Still a nice view off the station footbridge. CJM

What a difference a bit of sun makes over yesterdays pix of the same loco. Today's 66001 passing Dawlish was quite nice and well illuminated, thanks to DB-S running a nice Saturday morning freight, 66001 is seen approaching Dawlish station with train 6C55, 06.51 St Blazey to Exeter Riverside. CJM

What a difference a bit of sun makes over yesterdays pix of the same loco. Today's 66001 passing Dawlish was quite nice and well illuminated, thanks to DB-S running a nice Saturday morning freight, 66001 is seen approaching Dawlish station with train 6C55, 06.51 St Blazey to Exeter Riverside. CJM